Security Measures High in Australia for “Deathly Hallows” Release

Australian newspaper, The Age, has an interesting article online where it talks about the security measures put into place to guard the last Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and one of the high security locations where the is being printed. Andrew Hawkins, publicity director for Allen and Unwin, the Australian publisher, is quoted briefly in the article, simply saying: “Secrecy is the operative word; I can’t disclose anything.” Booksellers must sign legal documents so nothing gets revealed before it should, all to protect and preserve the moment for fans to experience, the feeling of a world wide release. One person who will not be able to experience the 9:01am Australian release as the other fans in the country, will be bookstore co-owner Chris Harrington, who will be working very hard the day of July 21st. He says of the whole experience:

“I’ve been in the business for 36 years and I haven’t seen anything like this global publishing event… It’s all part of the theatre,” he said. “You go with the spirit of it.”

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“Everyone is as excited as I am,” he says. “Everywhere you look, the whole town will be quiet and people will be reading the book.”